Gaura plant named ‘SME-2’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Gaura  plant named ‘SME-2’ characterized by dense, upright habit, green and purple-red foliage, purple-red flower stalks and rose-pink flowers. In combination these traits set ‘SME-2’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Gaura  known to the inventor.

Genus: Gaura.

Species: lindheimeri.

Denomination: ‘SME-2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Gauragrown for use as an ornamental plant for the landscape. The new cultivaris known botanically as Gaura lindheimeri and will be referred tohereinafter by the cultivar name ‘SME-2’.

‘SME-2’ is a hybrid plant that arose in a cultivated area in Wonga Park,Victoria, Australia, as follows:

In the spring of 2002, the inventor discovered growing in a bed ofplants of Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Pink’ (unpatented) a singleplant which exhibited a denser habit than Gaura lindheimeri ‘PassionatePink’. This discovery was of interest to the inventor since, althoughGaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Pink’ is very quick to grow and flower, itsoon develops a lax or open habit. The discovery is presumed to be achance seedling which resulted from the open pollination of plants ofthe surrounding plants of Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Pink’. Plants ofthe species Gaura lindheimeri have a tendency to self-seed if numerousflower stems are left in place. However, most cultivars of Gauralindheimeri, including Gaura lindheimeri ‘Dauphine’ (unpatented)—whichwas the pollen parent of Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Pink’—appear tobe sterile.

The inventor marked the single discovered plant and allowed it to run toseed so that further plants could be raised from this improvedselection. The seed was collected and sown immediately. In summer2002/2003, the resulting seedlings were transplanted into individual 14cm diameter containers which were planting out into a trial bed forover-wintering and evaluation as freshly-grown plants in spring 2003.After repeated observation of the trials plants during spring and summer2003, the inventor selected and removed for asexual reproduction andfurther trials a single plant to be known as ‘SME-2’. The inventorselected ‘SME-2’ for its particular combination of overall plant sizeand form which is dense and upright, its foliage which is both green andpurple-red, its purple-red flower stalks, and its rose-pink flowers.

‘SME-2’ was first asexually propagated by the inventor in 2003 fromvegetative (non-flowering) stem cuttings taken from the original plant‘SME-2’. The cuttings were grown to rooted plug stage and thentransferred to 140 mm. containers, filled with pine bark based mixcontaining controlled release fertilizer. The resulting plants weredetermined to exhibit the same characteristics as the originallyselected plant ‘SME-2’ and from subsequent asexual reproductions theinventor has determined that the new variety ‘SME-2’ is stable andreproduces true to type.

When compared with Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Pink’, ‘SME-2’ isreadily distinguished by its dense foliage habit, whereas Gauralindheimeri ‘Passionate Pink’ exhibits a somewhat sparse growth habit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of the new plant ‘SME-2’. In combinationthese traits set ‘SME-2’ apart from all other Gaura known to theinventor. ‘SME-2’ has not been tested under all possible conditions andphenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental,climatic and cultural conditions, however, without any variance ingenotype.

-   -   1. Gaura ‘SME-2’ exhibits a dense, upright habit.    -   2. Gaura ‘SME-2’ exhibits purple-red flower stalks.    -   3. Gaura ‘SME-2’ exhibits green and purple-red foliage.    -   4. Gaura ‘SME-2’ is propagated using vegetative stem cuttings.    -   5. Gaura ‘SME-2’ exhibits rose-pink flowers.    -   6. Gaura ‘SME-2’ is hardy in USDA Zones 6-10.    -   7. Gaura ‘SME-2’ is 65 cm. in height and up to 100 cm. in width        at five months of age.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Gaura cultivar ‘SME-2’ showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety ‘SME-2’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 illustrates a mature one year old plantplanted out-of-doors in Wonga Park, Victoria, Australia with approximateheight 65 cm and approximate width 100 cm.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 illustrates a five months old plant of‘SME-2’ that has been grown in a cool greenhouse in a 14 cm containerand is ready for market in bud and first flower.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 3 presents a close-up view of a flower of‘SME-2’.

Drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colors mayappear different from actual colors due to light reflectance they are asaccurate as possible by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Gaura plant named‘SME-2’. Data was collected in Arroyo Grande, Calif. from plants thathad been received from the inventor as cuttings in early spring 2004.The plants, which grow very rapidly, were rooted and grown out of doorsin one-liter containers and then transplanted into the ground. Theplants were approximately five months old at the time of datacollection. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2001edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Thegrowing requirements are similar to other Gaura.

-   Botanical classification: Genus: Gaura.-   Species: lindheimeri.-   Denomination: ‘SME-2’.-   Commercial classification: Perennial.-   Common name: Butterfly bush.-   Use: Ornamental for container or landscape.-   Cultural requirements: Plant in well-drained moderately fertile soil    in full sun.-   Pests and disease: No susceptibility or resistance to pests or    disease are known to the inventor.-   Root system: Deep rooting makes the plant very drought tolerant.-   Parentage: Gaura ‘SME-2’ was selected as a single seedling grown    from seed collected from a plant which was discovered within a crop    of Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Pink’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Bloom period.—Late spring to fall.        -   Plant habit.—Dense, upright growth habit.        -   Plant height.—65 cm. in height after one year.        -   Plant width.—100 cm. in width after one year.        -   Plant hardiness.—USDA Zones 6-10.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using vegetative            stem cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots.—2-3 weeks are needed for initial            cuttings to develop roots.        -   Crop time.—4 months are needed to produce a finished 1-liter            container.-   Stem:    -   -   Main trunk dimensions.—20 cm. in length and 0.50 cm. in            diameter.        -   Main trunk color.—199B.        -   Main trunk shape.—Subcylindric.        -   Main trunk texture.—Rigid.        -   Main trunk surface.—Scarious.        -   Stem shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Stem color.—147B.        -   Stem texture.—Flexible.        -   Stem dimensions.—11 cm. in length and 0.25 cm. in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Mostly glabrous, with only a few hairs.        -   Internode length.—Average internode length is 6.1 mm.        -   Branching habit.—Sympodium and densely branching from main            trunk.        -   Node dimensions.—Prominent nodes 0.50 cm. in height and            0.50 cm. in width.        -   Node color.—147A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—187A.        -   Vein color (abaxial surfaces).—187A.        -   Margins.—Entire and slightly undulate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Leaf appearance.—Matte.        -   Leaf dimensions.—65 mm-70 mm in length and 5 mm-10 mm in            width.        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Leaf color (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Colors 147A and            187A are both individually present on all individual leaves            that are above the base of the plant.        -   Basal leaf color (abaxial and adaxial surfaces).—On leaves            that are at the base of the plant, color is 147A.        -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Strongest on new growth.        -   Fragrance.—None observed.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Panicle.        -   Dimensions of inflorescence.—5 cm. in length and 1 cm. in            width.        -   Shape.—Explanate.        -   Sexuality.—Bisexual.        -   Flower dimensions.—2.25 cm. in diameter and 2 cm. in length.        -   Calcar dimensions.—12 mm. in length and 3 mm. in width.        -   Calcar color.—184C.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Aspect.—Facing outward.        -   Bud dimensions.—2 mm. in width and 8 mm. in length.        -   Bud shape.—Oblong.        -   Bud color.—187B.        -   Bud surface.—Lanate.        -   Bract color.—184A.        -   Bract dimensions.—8 mm. in length and 0.20 mm. in width.        -   Bract shape.—Linear.        -   Bract surface.—Lanate.        -   Number of bracts.—10-15 bracts.        -   Number of buds per peduncle.—An average of 10-15 buds per            peduncle.        -   Bud apex.—Rounded.        -   Flower color.—Colors 65A, 65D, 68A, and N66A are            individually present on individual flower.        -   Petals.—Four in number.        -   Petal color (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Colors 65A, 68A,            and N66A are individually present in individual petals.        -   Petal shape.—Ovate.        -   Petal dimensions.—14 mm. in length and 6 mm. in width.        -   Vein pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—N66A.        -   Petals fused or unfused.—Unfused.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal apex.—Rounded.        -   Petal surface.—Glabrous.        -   Peduncle shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Peduncle color.—187B.        -   Peduncle surface.—Puberulent.        -   Peduncle dimensions.—10 cm. in length and 2 mm. in width.        -   Flower fragrance.—None observed.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Eight in number.        -   Stamen color.—65A.        -   Stamen dimensions.—9 mm. in length and 0.25 mm. in diameter.        -   Anther color.—187A.        -   Anther dimensions.—2.50 mm. in length and 0.50 mm. in width.        -   Quantity of pollen.—Small amount.        -   Color of pollen.—155C.        -   Pistil.—One in number.        -   Pistil dimensions.—12 mm. in length and 0.50 mm. in width.        -   Pistil color.—184D.        -   Pistil shape.—Filament.        -   Style color.—184D.        -   Stigma shape.—Four lobed.        -   Stigma color.—184C.        -   Stigma dimensions.—2 mm. in height and 2 mm. in width.        -   Ovary position.—Inferior.        -   Ovary color.—139A.        -   Ovary shape.—Globular.        -   Ovary dimensions.—3 mm. in length and 3 mm. in diameter.-   Seed production: No seed production has been observed to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaura plant named ‘SME-2’ as describedand illustrated herein.